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Stories

More Than a Wallet

While every product bearing the Ghurka medallion is specially handcrafted to withstand a lifetime of regular and adventurous use, there is one piece that will be called upon for duty far more than any other. While a favored leather briefcase will get the weekend off, and even the most intrepid traveler will occasionally store his bags, only one leather good is carried day in and day out, bereft of which our collector would never feel complete: his Ghurka wallet.
Our founder Marley Hodgson understood the importance of the wallet to our brand. Not only was it a small item that would have to hold up to being handled thousands of times, it was an essential leather good that was often gifted, and it would, for many, be the first of our items ...

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While every product bearing the Ghurka medallion is specially handcrafted to withstand a lifetime of regular and adventurous use, there is one piece that will be called upon for duty far more than any other. While a favored leather briefcase will get the weekend off, and even the most intrepid traveler will occasionally store his bags, only one leather good is carried day in and day out, bereft of which our collector would never feel complete: his Ghurka wallet.
Our founder Marley Hodgson understood the importance of the wallet to our brand. Not only was it a small item that would have to hold up to being handled thousands of times, it was an essential leather good that was often gifted, and it would, for many, be the first of our items they would own - the gateway Ghurka. Thus, it was decided that any wallet that was to carry the Ghurka name needed to be the finest handcrafted leather wallet in the world. In his typical fashion, Marley set out to find just that.
The journey eventually lead to a small workshop in southern Europe, where he discovered a group of skilled craftsmen who were producing the most perfect wallet he had ever seen - 29 separate pieces of the highest grade leather, hand stitched, with each edge contoured and reinforced for ultimate strength and durability. Eight credit card and ID pockets, two additional interior compartments, and a deep billfold in a supple but sturdy leather meant to mold to the owner’s unique form, this wallet became known as the Ghurka Classic no. 101.
The range of Ghurka wallets has since grown to satisfy a wide variety of evolving needs., For those that like to keep it minimal, we have our Business Card Holder, our leather sheathed Money Clip, our Credit Card Case, and a slimmer version of our Classic. For those with a bit more to organize, we offer our Breast Pocket Wallet. For the frequent transatlantic traveler we have the International Wallet with a deeper billfold for a variety of currency, our Passport Wallet, and our largest - the Zippered Travel Wallet. Regardless of which is right for you, you can be sure they are all handcrafted with the same quality and attention to detail as our very first Classic, because they are made in that same small workshop. Why? Because that’s who makes the best wallets in the world, and those are the only kind that we will ever sell.

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The Wallet Story

Ghurka's leather gear accompanies our loyal fans around the globe. A particular well-traveled enthusiast recently posted his trusted wallet to Ghurka "after 18 years of service" accompanied by this note.
Enjoy his story:
"I am writing this today to compliment your company on the quality of its merchandise. I have purchased several items from Ghurka over the past 20 years and have always been tremendously impressed with the quality, workmanship, style, and durability of your company's products. A case in point is the enclosed wallet. I received this wallet for my 20th birthday in 1987. Several days ago for my 38th birthday my family decided to finally replace the old Ghurka wallet with a new Ghurka wallet. It may sound insane, but I do...

read full story

Ghurka's leather gear accompanies our loyal fans around the globe. A particular well-traveled enthusiast recently posted his trusted wallet to Ghurka "after 18 years of service" accompanied by this note.
Enjoy his story:
"I am writing this today to compliment your company on the quality of its merchandise. I have purchased several items from Ghurka over the past 20 years and have always been tremendously impressed with the quality, workmanship, style, and durability of your company's products. A case in point is the enclosed wallet. I received this wallet for my 20th birthday in 1987. Several days ago for my 38th birthday my family decided to finally replace the old Ghurka wallet with a new Ghurka wallet. It may sound insane, but I do have an emotional tie to my old wallet and decided that the only way to properly dispose of it was to send it to its source. I feel this is a more distinguished form of disposal and the only way I will reluctantly release it from my possession. This wallet was with me through college and through the first half of my career. In its 18 years with me it has been lost and found several times. It has been dropped in oceans, lakes and rivers around the world. It has visited Europe, Southeast Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Russia, the Caribbean, South America, Canada, and Mexico, not to mention almost all of the 50 United States. It has seen me through many ups and downs over the past 18 years. Through all of the trials and tribulations of 18 years of life, my Ghurka has served me exceedingly well. Thank you for designing and manufacturing such a superior product. I am looking forward to another 18 years of life with my new Ghurka wallet."

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Lost love, my wallet

My Wallet (Circa 1999 - 2015)
I can't remember exactly when or where I got my Ghurka card case but I know it dates to just before the turn of the (21st) century. When I look back at all the places we have been together, how we aged together and how it was always there for me I can't help be feel overwhelmed by it's loss.
Recently after so many years together I lost my wallet somewhere between the deli across the street and my office which is all of about 500 paces or so. When I realized it was missing I panicked. I retraced my steps time and again. I called the deli every few hours to see if anyone had turned it in. No one did.
When I told friends and colleagues of my loss they commiserated with me about the difficulty of obtaining...

read full story

My Wallet (Circa 1999 - 2015)
I can't remember exactly when or where I got my Ghurka card case but I know it dates to just before the turn of the (21st) century. When I look back at all the places we have been together, how we aged together and how it was always there for me I can't help be feel overwhelmed by it's loss.
Recently after so many years together I lost my wallet somewhere between the deli across the street and my office which is all of about 500 paces or so. When I realized it was missing I panicked. I retraced my steps time and again. I called the deli every few hours to see if anyone had turned it in. No one did.
When I told friends and colleagues of my loss they commiserated with me about the difficulty of obtaining new credit cards and licenses. What they couldn't understand was that none of that mattered to me. All new cards were in my possession within a day or two. The difficulty would be in replacing the 16 years of aging I had spent with that wallet.
As my hair lightened and started to show its grey, my wallet changed its appearance too. Starting out as the most beautiful light chestnut brown coloring my wallet darkened as the years went on. When you looked inside of the wallet at the areas that infrequently had been touched or exposed you could still see that beautiful shade of chestnut. The oils rubbing off from my skin moisturized the leather to a point of smoothness that can only happen with years of age. The imprint of my credit cards showed on both sides of the wallet from years of being tucked in the same slots every day. I could literally read the numbers off the wallet if I had too.
To be honest I'd tried to replace the wallet in the past. I'd thought to myself, it's time to make a change. I had no good reason. The leather was still in perfect condition. Every stitch still holding tight. I tried a few other wallets over the years. This one was too big, this one too stiff, that one too brown. They were never right. It was always only a day or two and I was always back to my Ghurka wallet.
I'm not sure what compelled me to always switch back so quickly. Was it the beauty of the well-aged leather? The perfect way it fit everything I always needed and nothing more? Or was it the history together? The fact that it had seen me through my graduations, my wedding, the birth of my son.
So now I find myself returning once again to make a choice which is forced upon me this time. I have tried out two or three wallets since my loss and find myself looking for something familiar, something that will carry me through my sons graduations, his wedding and the birth of his children. I know my new Ghurka wallet will always be there for me for all the important life events to come.

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Do You Have A Story?

We would love to hear about the adventures you have had with your Ghurka accessories. Easily upload photos and stories by clicking below.

Ghurka Features

Our Leather

The Stitching

The Brass

The Process

Our Leather

Ghurka leather is never pretreated to remove any flaws, we must begin by using the most naturally flawless hides available. While we utilize a variety of leather types based on which is best suited to a particular product, the majority of our goods are made from French calfskin. Calfskin has a finer grain and softer feel than traditional cowhide as the younger age of the animal brings less exposure to the harsh elements, the main cause of imperfection. French calfskin in particular is considered the finest in the world due to the fact that farms in France do not use barbed wire, one of the leading causes of mars and scratches. As no two skins are completely alike, each and every handcrafted leather Ghurka product will have an individual character that adds to its unique patina as it ages.

The Stitching

We use an extra-thick spun nylon that should never snap or fray, and all of our craftsmen ensure that each and every piece is stitched to our exacting standards. A careful review of any two parts of a Ghurka leather luggage piece will reveal exactly the same number of stitches per inch, a requirement for anything that leaves our workshop. The placement of these stitches is equally exact, precisely laid out to the millimeter to ensure that every bit of leather is assembled to last a lifetime.

The Brass

Brass is the only metal we've found that offers the strength, durability, and reliability that have become our hallmark. Every single piece of our hardware - from zippers, buckles, and hooks to the smallest of snaps and rivets are made solely from this rugged and beautiful material. A great deal of time and expense has been invested in perfecting our brass zippers. Every single tooth is individually machined and polished to ensure flawless operation after years of continuous use. And since all of our leather briefcase and leather travel bag hardware is solid brass and never plated, it too will develop a unique character and patina as it ages alongside our famous leather.

The Process

Since our founding, Ghurka has set out to manufacture the highest handcrafted leather goods available in the U.S. This has always begun with using only the finest hides in the world. While there are endless varieties of leather available, only a handful pass the rigorous selection process required to bear the Ghurka medallion. Likewise, our signature solid brass hardware and trademark stitching process ensure that our bags deliver an unparalleled owner experience and lifetime of use.

Our Leather

learn more

show less

Our Leather

Ghurka leather is never pretreated to remove any flaws, we must begin by using the most naturally flawless hides available. While we utilize a variety of leather types based on which is best suited to a particular product, the majority of our goods are made from French calfskin. Calfskin has a finer grain and softer feel than traditional cowhide as the younger age of the animal brings less exposure to the harsh elements, the main cause of imperfection. French calfskin in particular is considered the finest in the world due to the fact that farms in France do not use barbed wire, one of the leading causes of mars and scratches. As no two skins are completely alike, each and every handcrafted leather Ghurka product will have an individual character that adds to its unique patina as it ages.

The Stitching

learn more

show less

The Stitching

We use an extra-thick spun nylon that should never snap or fray, and all of our craftsmen ensure that each and every piece is stitched to our exacting standards. A careful review of any two parts of a Ghurka leather luggage piece will reveal exactly the same number of stitches per inch, a requirement for anything that leaves our workshop. The placement of these stitches is equally exact, precisely laid out to the millimeter to ensure that every bit of leather is assembled to last a lifetime.

The Brass

learn more

show less

The Brass

Brass is the only metal we've found that offers the strength, durability, and reliability that have become our hallmark. Every single piece of our hardware - from zippers, buckles, and hooks to the smallest of snaps and rivets are made solely from this rugged and beautiful material. A great deal of time and expense has been invested in perfecting our brass zippers. Every single tooth is individually machined and polished to ensure flawless operation after years of continuous use. And since all of our leather briefcase and leather travel bag hardware is solid brass and never plated, it too will develop a unique character and patina as it ages alongside our famous leather.

The Process

learn more

show less

The Process

Since our founding, Ghurka has set out to manufacture the highest handcrafted leather goods available in the U.S. This has always begun with using only the finest hides in the world. While there are endless varieties of leather available, only a handful pass the rigorous selection process required to bear the Ghurka medallion. Likewise, our signature solid brass hardware and trademark stitching process ensure that our bags deliver an unparalleled owner experience and lifetime of use.